By Matt Schulz
FANSonly.com

EL PASO, Tex. -- Three touchdowns in nine seconds.

That's what transpired early in the fourth quarter of one of the most bizarre college football games played in recent memory -- a game won by Kansas State, 28-17, over Penn State at the Sun Bowl.

The Wildcats scored two of those three touchdowns -- including a 99-yard kickoff return by Frank Murphy -- sealing a win and a spot in the VCS quarterfinals against perennial nemesis Nebraska. The Huskers beat Texas A&M to advance.

Murphy was absolutely dominating, scoring all four of K-State's touchdowns and tallying 219 yards of total offense. His brilliance helped the Wildcats overcome the struggles of QB Jonathan Beasley (8-of-21, 173 yds, 2 INTs, 1 TD).

The score was 14-10 and a scoreless third quarter had just been completed when the barrage of points began. A short Penn State punt gave K-State the ball at the Nittany Lions' 45-yard line. Three runs by Murphy brought Cats down to the 21, then Murphy finished the job by catching a TD strike from Beasley with 12:06 left in the game.

That seemingly shifted the momentum to the Wildcats and got the crowd -- filled mainly with purple-clad K-State fans -- on their feet. But that feeling was shortlived.

Larry Johnson ran the ensuing kickoff back 102 yards, cutting the KSU lead to 21-17 and taking the wind out of the K-State crowd's sails.

But again, it didn't last long.

Murphy -- who had already scored two rushing TDs and one receiving TD -- answered Johnson's return with one of his own, this time for 99 yards.

That play seemed to break the Nittany Lions' spirit. Penn State wouldn't manage another first down in the game.